Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks

Compile data, compute fees and charges, and prepare invoices for billing purposes. Duties include computing costs and calculating rates for goods, services, and shipment of goods; posting data; and keeping other relevant records. May involve use of computer or typewriter, calculator, and adding and bookkeeping machines.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

1. Verify accuracy of billing data and revise any errors.

2. Operate typing, adding, calculating, and billing machines.

3. Prepare itemized statements, bills, or invoices; and record amounts due for items purchased or services rendered.

4. Review documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, or hospital records in order to compute fees and charges due.

5. Perform bookkeeping work, including posting data and keeping other records concerning costs of goods and services and the shipment of goods.

6. Keep records of invoices and support documents.

7. Resolve discrepancies in accounting records.

8. Type billing documents, shipping labels, credit memorandums, and credit forms, using typewriters or computers.

9. Contact customers in order to obtain or relay account information.

10. Compute credit terms, discounts, shipment charges, and rates for goods and services in order to complete billing documents.

11. Answer mail and telephone inquiries regarding rates, routing, and procedures.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.

In NY the average wage for this occupation was:

$25,410 for entry level workers, and $39,010 for experienced workers.

Based on the total number of annual openings and its growth rate, the employment prospects for this occupation are described as Favorable.

During 2006, there were approximately 32,480 Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks employed in NY.

We estimate that in 2016 there will be 32,360  employed in NY. This represents a decrease of 0 job(s) each year, and a total of 420 job openings each year.

Financial clerks (Intro) - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Billing and posting clerks and machine operators - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks - Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

Loan Interviewers and Clerks - Interview loan applicants to elicit information; investigate applicants' backgrounds and verify references; prepare loan request papers; and forward findings, reports, and documents to appraisal department. Review loan papers to ensure completeness, and complete transactions between loan establishment, borrowers, and sellers upon approval of loan.

New Accounts Clerks - Interview persons desiring to open bank accounts. Explain banking services available to prospective customers and assist them in preparing application form.

Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive - Perform routine clerical and administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

Insurance Claims Clerks - Obtain information from insured or designated persons for purpose of settling claim with insurance carrier.

Insurance Policy Processing Clerks - Process applications for, changes to, reinstatement of, and cancellation of insurance policies. Duties include reviewing insurance applications to ensure that all questions have been answered, compiling data on insurance policy changes, changing policy records to conform to insured party's specifications, compiling data on lapsed insurance policies to determine automatic reinstatement according to company policies, canceling insurance policies as requested by agents, and verifying the accuracy of insurance company records.

Office Clerks, General - Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring limited knowledge of office management systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, stenography, office machine operation, and filing.